Newcastle's Hybrid Buses

[flymo]

Alright, seeing as these are coming off the Quaylink next month when the operating contract changes hands to Go North East, what can they be used for?
Nothing immediately springs to mind but how about a city centre circular?. Sort of Haymarket - Percy St - Blackett St - Pilgrim St - Market St - Grainger St - Westgate Rd - Neville St - Clayton St West - Newgate St - Percy St - Haymarket sort of thing. A bit like the Quayside shuttle I suppose just without the Quayside bit. Maybe 50p or so (dare I say free) to get people to use it.

Just hypothesizing.

 

[142094]

This is news to me, having not been back home for a bit. IMO they were a white elephant in the first place, I've never seen one remotely full even though the Lib Dems at the council said they were well used.

That shuttle would be interesting, but not sure if there would be demand. Most people could get to those areas in under 10 minutes walking. They could always be used as a fleet strentghener, although I would like to see some service such as Walker terminus - Walker Road - St. Peter's Basin - City Road - Quayside - Theatre Royal type service that used to be on. Either that or bring back the 12A to go up the bank from Commercial Rd. Both of those were vital services for the elderly.

 

[DannyBoy]

The main problem with them being used as a fleet strengthener is that the Designlines do 40mph max, and don't have the power to do that for too long. Which is why they were perfect for Quaylink.

Their reliability problems are also a negative for doing normal routes, although I do like your idea Flymo, but as 142094 says, it's walking distances for most.

I reckon a park and ride would be perfect for them. Where from though?

Interestingly, they have the same timetable Monday to Saturday, meaning the Thursday to Saturday evening timetable has been cut from 5-10 minute frequency. I was told the funding was being cut slightly like.

 

[flymo]

Thanks for the replies.

The reason I suggested this routeing is that you simply cannot walk from Central Station to Haymarket in 5 to 10 minutes. I suggest 20 minutes as a realistic time and only then if the wind is behind you. I will never pay the £1-odd the Metro wants or whatever the bus companies charge these days. It makes sense surely to have a reasonably priced bus for such a short journey. For 5 minutes on a bus it should be only 50p. Why can other cities in the world do such things?

The original story from the Ronny Gill http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2010/06/28/plug-pulled-on-newcastle-quayside-electric-bus-72703-26741122/

 

[142094]

Not sure what kind of foot flow there is between Haymarket and Central, but bound to have reduced the time by a few minutes with the opening of the new bit in Eldon Square (where Waitrose is). Places like Leeds and Huddersfield have free buses around town, perhaps Nexus would fund this? Then again if it competes with the Metro I can't see them doing that.

 

[mbonwick]

AIUI, Stagecoach are negotiating with Nexus to cascade the Olymbuses onto contract routes currently run by Darts.

The Darts will ten get shuffled around so that the SLFs replace the old step-entrance darts, which will be disposed of.